Moving target devices



Oct. 13, 19.70 c, MlLLER ET AL 3,533,624

MOVING TARGET DEVICES Filed Aug. 25, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. CHARLIE D. MILLER. ARTHUR C. O HARA.

ATTORNEY.

OCII. 13, 1970 c MlLLER ET AL 3,533,624

MOVING TARGET DEVICES Filed Aug. 25, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. CHARLIE D. M ILLER. ARTHUR O HARA.

ATTORNEY.

Oct. 13, 1970 c, NHLLER ETAL 3,533,624

MOVING TARGET DEVICES Filed Aug. 25, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS. CHARLES D. MILLER. BY ARTHUR C. O'HARA.

I ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,533,624 MOVING TARGET DEVICES Charlie D. Miller, 141 Masley Drive, and Arthur C. OHara, 4937 South Ave., both of Syracuse, N.Y.

Filed Aug. 25, 1967, Ser. No. 663,358 Int. Cl. F41j 9/00 U.S. Cl. 273-1052 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In order to improve accuracy, it has been suggested those individuals participating in football contests who are charged with throwing the football practice throwing the football at a moving target. Devices for this purpose have been proposed whereby a hoop or a circular structural member be provided at the end of an elongated rod and that movement be provided to the rod to cause the circular portion to move to and fro. Such a device may be utilized to improve the accuracy of a thrown missile be it a football, baseball, or other device by offering a moving target to one hurling or throwing the missile.

In utilizing moving target devices of the kind described, particularly as far as a football is concerned, it is desirable that the device be constructed so that it can be employed in a field or other expansive practice area and that it be provided with means for insuring its oscillatory movement over a considerable length of time. While it will be understood that devices of the kind under consideration may be readily supplied with electrical motors, the inconvenience of providing electrical leads offers a serious disadvantage. Self-contained electrical power sources such as batteries require maintenance which adds to the operating expense.

Accordingly, it is the chief object of this invention to provide a moving target device of the kind described in which there is provided an improved self-contained power supply means for imparting continuous movement to the device over a substantial period of time.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a spring motor with unique means for releasing the energy stored by the spring motor to control the movement of the target device.

The objects and features of the invention will be apparent upon consideration of the ensuing specification.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention contemplates a moving target device wherein there is provided an elongated rod having a circular portion disposed at its extremity. In order that the rod be caused to oscillate in a predetermined path so as to offer a moving target, there is provided a power supply means in the form of a spring motor together with improved mechanism operable under the influence of the movement of the rod to release the energy stored in the spring motor and supply it to the rod for the purpose of providing movement to the rod.

The energy release mechanism includes a lifter arm for normally latching a pawl in a pawl and ratchet combination connected to the drive spool of the spring motor in position such that the ratchet and spring motor associated therewith are locked in a stationary position. A pin deice pends from a pick-up arm and rotates with the target supporting rod. The pin in turn is associated with a pivotally mounted finger carried by the pick-up arm and is arranged therewith so that the engagement of the swinging pin with a spring mounted cam member will cause the finger to force the lifter arm free of its pawl latching position and release the ratchet to permit the spring motor to rotate and deliver an increment of its stored energy.

This release of energy causes a tooth on the ratchet wheel to forcibly strike the finger, imparting rotation to the rod and disengaging the finger from the lifter arm, re-establishing latching engagement between the pawl and ratchet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section, taken in elevation, of the power supply including the casing, employed with the device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along lines III-III on FIG. 2 showing certain of the operating parts of the energy release system utilized with the power supply;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the cam track taken along lines IVIV on FIG. 2;

FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are partial fragmentary views of certain of the parts shown in FIG. 2, illustrating the position of certain of the parts in sequence during a portion of a cycle of movement of the target; and

FIG. 9 is a plan view partly in cross-section taken along lines IX-IX on FIG. 1 showing the supporting frame for the target device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown a moving target device that may be used to improve the accuracy of a person desiring to acquire proficiency in the art of throwing a football. The device functions to cause a target to oscillate through an arcuate path. The person desiring to improve his accuracy places himself at a predetermined distance from the device and hurls a football or other missile at the target with the object being to hurl it through the hoop portion of the target device as the hoop moves through its path of travel.

A cycle of hoop travel is considered to be movement of the hoop from either of its extreme positions to the other and back to the original extreme position, a half cycle of travel being the distance the hoop portion travels in moving from a first extreme position to its other extreme position.

To this end, there is provided a main support frame 10 for the device. The support consists of structural steel angle members 12 having horizontal flanges 14 and vertical flanges 16. The members 12 are formed in the man ner shown in FIG. 1 so that a central section 15 and projecting end portions 15' are formed. Interposed between the vertical flanges 16 of the central sections 15 is a plate 17. The plate is secured to the central sections by conventional fastening means. Welded to one edge of the plate 17 is a main support pipe 18. Completing the support assembly are wheels 19 attached to the projecting end portions 15' through mounting brackets or the like. The wheels 19 are positioned so as to normally clear the floor or ground. They rotatably support the target when the unit is tilted forward. Thus the device may be easily moved from one position to another in a practice area.

One of the important features of the invention involves the provision of a power supply unit generally referred to at 20. Briefly, the power supply unit involves a spring motor together with means for winding the spring motor and a mechanism for releasing the stored energy rep- 3 resented by the wound spring motor in such a manner that continued movement of the target device over a substantial period of time is assured.

A power supply unit is illustrated in FIG. 2 and includes a casing 22 supported on main support pipe 18. The casing includes the usual side and end walls together with a top and bottom wall all formed of conventional structural material such as sheet steel stamped and formed to the desired configuration. Mounted within the casing 22 is a power spool 24 in a bearing 26 secured about an opening in one of the side walls. Mounted on the same wall is an idler spool 28. Extending between the idler and power spools is a spring member 30 consisting of a fiat band of steel wrapped upon itself, such a construction being commonly known as a negator spring. In its unstressed condition, the spring 30 is normally disposed about the idler spool with an end thereof connected to the power spool. Mounted on the power spool 24 coaxially therewith is a ratchet wheel 32. Cooperatively associated with the ratchet wheel 32 is a pawl 34 pivotally mounted to a bracket 36 secured to the casing. Spring member 38 is provided for the purpose of urging pawl 34 into engagement with one of the teeth formed about the periphery of the ratchet wheel. A handle assembly to be later described is provided for the purpose of rotating the power spool in a manner such that the spring 30 will be wound about the power spool 24 while being unwound from the idler spool 28. The winding of the spring about the power spool places the spring under tension. The tendency of the spring to return to its unstressed condition about the idler spool is resisted by the pawl and ratchet in the usual manner.

Power spool 24 is provided with a hollow central section in which are mounted bearings 42. Supported in bearings 42 is a main power shaft 40. A roller bearing 44 is secured to the inner surface of a wall of the casing and also supports main power shaft in a manner such that an end thereof projects beyond the casing and mounts a sleeve 46. Adjustably arranged within sleeve 46 is an elongated rod 47 having a circular end or hoop section 49 forming the target through which it is desired to hurl the missile. A counterweight 51 is adjustably attached to the other end of the rod.

Another important feature of the invention is the provision of mechanism for releasing the energy stored by the spring after it is wound on the power spool. To this end, there is provided a lifter bar 48 having an enlarged central aperture disposed about a mounting sleeve 52 located within the casing. The enlarged central aperture 50 permits lifter arm to move vertically relative to the power shaft 40 and the sleeve 52 encircling it. The upper end of the lifter bar 48 is connected to the pawl, while the free lower end of the lifter bar is arranged adjacent the ratchet wheel as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Lifter bar 48 together with ratchet wheel 32, pawl 34, bracket 36 and spring 38, may be considered as means for maintaining the spring in position on the spool.

A pick-up arm 54, FIGS. 2 and 3, is pinned to the main power shaft 40 so as to rotate therewith. It will be apparent that with the elongated rod 47 assembled within the sleeve 46 the path described by pick-up arm 54 is parallel to that generated by the elongated arm 47. Located at the lower end of the pick-up arm 54 is a notch 56 extending from the lower edge upwardly. Pivotally mounted within the area defined by the notch is a finger 58. The notch and finger are shaped so that the finger may swing upwardly or counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 2 relative to the arm but is restrained from clockwise rotation except as may be provided by the action of a leaf spring 58 urging it to return to its at rest position shown in FIG. 2 after such limited upward or counterclockwise movement as will be hereinafter described. The normal position of the finger 58 is shown in FIG. 2. Departure of the finger from this normal position so as to swing upwardly or counterclockwise as hereinafter described will initiate the action resulting in the transfer of energy from the spring motor to the target support rod 47. Depending from the finger 58 is a pin 60 equipped with a cam roller 62 at its lower extremity The arm 54, finger 58 and pin 60 may be considered as a pivoted lever mechanism.

Disposed below the cam roller 62 is a cam track assembly 64. The cam track assembly 64 includes an upstanding cam member 65 having opposed surfaces 66 and 6S. Cam member 65 is provided with a flange portion 71 having an opening 71 through which extends rod and spring assembly 70. Referring to FIG. 2 the cam member is constructed so as to pivot against the action of the spring assembly in either a clockwise or a counterclockwise direction. When pivoting in a clockwise direction, the fulcrum is located at point a. When pivoting in a counterclockwise direction, the fulcrum is located at point b. The spring exerts a downward force through point 0. By varying the distance between a and c on one hand and between [2 and c on the other, it will be evident that the cam member will have more resistance to pivoting in one direction than in the other. In the construction illustrated, the cam member 65 will have more resistance to rotation in a counterclockwise direction than in a clock wise direction.

As pointed out above, the power spool is rotated for the purpose of winding spring 30 thereabout. A particular feature of the invention involves a handle assembly which prevents over-winding of the power spool and at the same time prevents, once the spring is released so as to return to its position of normal repose on the idler spool, complete separation of the spring from the power spool. The handle assembly includes a housing 74 arranged about the casing opening mounting the power spool. Connected to the power spool and disposed within the housing 74 is a threaded shaft 76 having a follower 78 of a configuration, as compared to the configuration of the housing, so that it will travel axially along the threaded shaft in response to rotation thereof. In other words, follower 78 travels in a lead screw type movement as the shaft is rotated. Follower 78 is provided with pins 80 projecting therefrom. Assembled about the end of threaded shaft 76 is crank 82 including a collar or hub 84 having a notch 86 disposed therein. A shaft pin 88 is arranged to be received within the notch 86. Shaft pin 88 is affixed to the shaft 76.

Considering the operation of the invention, the parts are so arranged that upon rotation of crank 82 with pin 88 engaged in notch 86 power spool 24 will rotate in the same direction and cause the spring 30 to be wound thereabout from idler spool 28. The ratchet wheel 32 being secured to the power spool prevents the spring from rotating the power spool in a reverse direction. After a predetermined number of turns, follower member 78 travels to a position within the housing such that pins 80 project therefrom through openings provided in the housing wall and cause the collar 84 to slide out of engagement with the pin 88 so that continued rotation of the crank will not cause a corresponding rotation of the threaded shaft and power spool but will rather turn freely relative to the threaded shaft 76. At this point, the spring 30 has been substantially transferred from the idler spool 28 to the power spool 24 leaving of course an end portion secured to the idler spool.

With the elongated rod 47 assembled within sleeve 46 and secured by a set screw or the like and the counterweight 51. applied to the rod, the parts are in proper position for initiating continuous operation or oscillatory movement within the limits determined by spring 30. The elongated rod is then rotated to a position coincident with an extreme position of its desired arcuate path. The rod is then released and rotates under the influence of the counterweight toward a position representing the other extreme end of its arcuate travel. As the rod rotates, arm 54 rotates with it and finger 58 is in the position shown in FIG. 2 with about inch clearance with the ratchet wheel. Eventually, the cam roller 62 carried by pin 60 will engage cam surface 66 on cam member 65 urging finger 58 to swing upwardly or counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 2. Upward rotation beyond the clearance between the finger and ratchet wheel at this particular point, however is resisted by engagement between the finger 58 and the relatively flat surface 32a on a tooth of the ratchet wheel, note FIG. 5. Continued rotation of the arm 54 and the shaft 40 causes finger 58 to ride along the flat surface 32a resulting in compression of spring 70 as the cam member attempts to rotate counterclockwise under the force exerted thereagainst by the roller 62. Eventually, as rotation of the rod and arm 54 continues, finger 58 travels beyond tooth surface 32a at which time resistance to the previously loaded spring 70 is removed and the finger 58 abruptly continues its interrupted upward or counterclockwise movement under the impetus of Spring 70 so that the parts assume the positions shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. At this stage, lifter bar 48 is moved abruptly upward disengaging the pawl 34 from the ratchet wheel 32, note FIG. 7. The ratchet wheel now rotates under the influence of the energy in the spring 30 and carries finger 58 to the left by engagement of the surface 32b on the previous tooth, enabling lifter arm to again drop under the influence of spring 38 and effect engagement of the pawl 34 with the next circumferential tooth on the ratchet wheel terminating movement of the ratchet wheel. At the instant the ratchet wheel rotation terminates, spring 58 causes finger 58 to drop to the position shown in FIG. 2.

The forcible contact of the surface 32b against finger 58 imparts swinging movement to the power shaft 40, sleeve 46 and rod 47 against the action of the counterweight. As the rod reaches the end of its arc of movement under this force or a half cycle as defined above, the counterweight causes the parts to swing downwardly through the arcuate path traveled. The roller 62 now engages the surface 68 of the cam member 65. As explained above, the cam member 65 is urged to pivot about point a, note FIG. 2. The strength of spring is such that the desired pivoting action may be accomplished without damaging the connection between finger 58 and arm 54 and at the same time offer a minimum of resistance to the movement of the arm. It will be appreciated that energy used to overcome spring 70 will diminish the momentum previously imparted to the arm. The momentum furnished by the counterweight carries the rod 47 to the other end of its arcuate path so as to complete a full cycle of travel. As the rod changes direction, still under the influence of previously described force and counterweight actions, it approaches the cam member 65 so as to engage surface 66 again and repeat the action above described.

The described power cycle will be repeated until the energy represented by spring 30 has been dissipated through the periodic movement of the ratchet wheel which in turn permits the spring to re-wind itself about idler spool 28. The successive increments of rotational movement of the ratchet wheel cause corresponding movement of the shaft 40. This latter movement in turn causes follower 78 to travel to the left as viewed in FIG. 2. Eventually, the follower 78 will engage the end of the spool 24 and thereafter act as a brake to prevent complete separation due to unwinding.

While we have described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood the invention is not limited thereto since it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. Moving target apparatus comprising support means, power supply mechanism sustained by the support means, an elongated rod having a target portion at one end thereof, said rod being connected to said power supply mechanism to receive movement imparted thereto for oscillating the rod through an arcuate path, said mechanism comprising:

a casing serving as a housing for the operating parts of the mechanism,

a power spool, 1

an idler spool spaced from said power spool,

spring means connecting the idler spool with the power spool, said spring means being normally wound about said idler spool when the spring is in its unstressed condition,

a main shaft supported in said casing, said rod being connected to said shaft,

a ratchet wheel associated with said power spool,

a pawl for engaging said ratchet wheel,

handle means for imparting rotation to said power spool to cause said spring to be wound onto said power spool from said idler spool and to be maintained about said power spool by said pawl and ratchet wheel engagement,

means operative in response to movement of the rod for momentarily disconnecting the pawl from the ratchet wheel and after a predetermined movement of the wheel under the influence of the energy released from the stressed spring, re-establishing engagement of the pawl and ratchet wheel, said means including a bar connected to the pawl,

an arm secured to said main shaft,

finger means carried by said arm, said finger means having limited upward movement relative to the arm, and

cam means for imparting upward movement to said finger means as the finger means moves together with the arm and rod in one direction through its path of travel, thereby causing movement of the lifter bar and release of the pawl from the ratchet wheel, movement of the ratchet wheel in response to the pawl release driving the finger means out of engagement with the lifter bar to re-establish connection between the pawl and ratchet wheel while imparting movement to the finger means and the rod with which it is associated.

2. Moving target apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said cam means includes a pivotally mounted abutment member having a first surface for engagement by the finger means when the rod is traveling in one direction in its arcuate path and a second surface for engagement by the finger means when the rod is traveling in its opposite direction, the resistance to the pivoting action when one surface is engaged by said finger means being greater than the resistance to the pivoting action when the other surface is engaged.

3. Moving target apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein said cam means includes a spring against which the pivoting action of the abutment member is accomplished, the spring and abutment member being arranged relative to the ratchet wheel so that during one direction of movement of the rod and finger means engagement of the finger means and the cam means compresses the spring.

4. Moving target apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said handle means includes mechanism for automatically discontinuing the winding of the spring about the power spool.

5. Moving target apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said handle means includes a shaft connected to the power spool, said shaft having a pin connected thereto, a collar about the shaft and slidable relative thereto, a crank connected to the collar, said collar having a pin receiving notch for engagement therewith to rotate the shaft and means for disengaging said collar from said shaft after a predetermined length of spring has been wound onto the power spool by rotation of the shaft.

6. Moving target apparatus as described in claim 5 wherein said last mentioned means includes a follower adapted to travel longitudinally of the handle means shaft as it rotates, said follower engaging said collar and slidably disengaging it from the pin after a predetermined rotation of the handle means shaft.

7. Moving target apparatus comprising:

(a) support means;

(b) a target device including an elongated rod having a target portion at which missiles may be directed;

(c) power supply mechanism attached to the support means, said power supply mechanism including:

(i) a spring motor comprising a spool, a spring, means for winding the spring about the spool so that the spring is releasably secured under stress representing a force of predetermined magnitude;

((1) means for releasably maintaining the spring in a preselected position about the spool;

(e) means connected to the elongated rod for supporting the rod from the power supply mechanism;

(f) means associated with the rod supporting means for periodically engaging the means for maintaining the spring member in a preselected position to change the position and effect incremental release of energy from the stressed spring, said means including a pivoted lever mechanism effective only after a predetermined movement to engage a first portion of the spring position maintaining means to accomplish temporary release of the means maintaining the spring member in a preselected position and thereafter be in turn forcibly engaged by a second portion of the spring position maintaining means so as to be disengaged from the first portion whereby the force exerted by engagement between the second portion imparts movement to the elongated rod; and

(g) means effecting the desired pivotal movement of the lever mechanism as the rod moves in a predetermined direction through its path of movement.

8. Moving target apparatus as described in claim 7 wherein said last-mentioned means includes a pivotally mounted cam arranged so that when the rod moves in one direction, engagement with a first surface thereof by the pivoted lever mechanism will move same in the desired direction to actuate the spring position maintaining means, said cam being mounted so that upon engagement with a second surface by the pivoted lever mechanism, occur ring as the rod moves in the opposite direction, pivotal movement of the cam as opposed to pivotal movement of the lever mechanism obtains.

9. Moving target apparatus as described in claim 8 wherein a spring biases said cam to a predetermined position, the parts being arranged so that upon initial engagement between the pivoted lever mechanism and the first surface of the cam, the cam moves in a direction to compress the spring, additional movement of the pivoted lever mechanism beyond the initial engagement accomplishing contact with the first portion of the spring position maintaining means with the energy represented by the compressed bias spring being transferred to the pivoted lever mechanism.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,210,557 8/1940 Schilace et al 273l05.5

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner T. BROWN, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 58-48; 273 

